£40 million boost to UK DRI hub at UCL

We are thrilled to announce that the MRC are investing a further £40 million into the UK Dementia Research Institute. This additional funding award gives us a huge boost as we strive to improve the lives of the millions of people affected by dementia.

The £40m funding will contribute to an iconic £250m new building at UCL which will host the central hub of UK DRI alongside the university’s world-class Institute of Neurology (IoN). The building will be part of large redevelopment at the Eastman Dental Hospital on Grays Inn Road, which will have important connections to a hospital unit.

Whilst we are busy developing and carrying out research in our interim labs at UCL, this funding will allow us to increase the number of researchers in our future hub space. Once complete, the UK DRI hub at UCL will host up to 350 scientists and staff who will be part of an estimated team of 700 UK DRI researchers nationally: all working together to unlock our understanding of dementia and how to conquer it.

The new site at UCL will offer outstanding research facilities and will be focused on creating a shared open environment. Collaboration is at the beating heart of the UK DRI so we are excited that we will be connected to the UCL IoN in this building which together will house over 500 neuroscience researchers. The new site will also incorporate space for public engagement – allowing us to connect to communities and share our progress in finding better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent dementia.

The landmark future home for the UK DRI hub and UCL IoN hopes to open its doors in 2024 – we’ll keep you posted on progress!

£40m

will contribute to an iconic £250m new building at UCL

We are extremely grateful for this new funding from the MRC. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in the UK DRI and the vibrant neuroscience research community here at UCL.

The new building will be an internationally recognized symbol of our commitment to conquering dementia. It will enable us to attract the best researchers and to provide them with an optimum environment for getting the job done. Importantly, the new space will also connect our researchers to the public and people affected by dementia.
Adrian Ivinson, Chief Operating Officer, UK DRI

350

researchers will work in the UK DRI hub at UCL

Understanding the causes of dementia and discovering potential treatments, is a huge priority for UCL, and we were delighted to be chosen as the hub university for the UK Dementia Research Institute in 2016. The UK DRI is bringing together world leading researchers and cutting edge technology, and constructing a high class bespoke facility is critical to the Institute’s future success.

We are delighted with the Government’s £40m investment, which combined with the substantial financial commitments of UCL and our key partners, will help create a world class facility alongside the Institute of Neurology, helping shape the future of dementia research for decades to come.
Michael Arthur, President & Provost, UCL